General Tour Information
Note: The information presented here is an abbreviated version of our formal General Information for Tours to Hong Kong. Its sole purpose is to give readers a sense of what might be involved if they took this tour. Although we do our best to make sure what follows here is completely accurate, it should not be used as a replacement for the formal document which will be sent to all tour registrants, and whose contents supersedes any information contained here.
ENTERING HONG KONG: U.S. citizens will need a valid passport which is valid for six months beyond the intended length of stay to enter Hong Kong, but a visa is not required. Citizens of other nations should contact the nearest Chinese Embassy for entry requirements.
To be able to obtain a permit for you to visit Mai Po we will need an advance photocopy of the relevant pages from your passport (only 2 pages needed—the one which gives your photograph and passport number and the page on which your signature appears).
MAP AND COUNTRY INFORMATION: You can view maps of China in the University of Texas series here. You can adjust the size of the map by clicking in the lower right corner. You can review the U.S. Department of State background notes on China here.
HEALTH: No innoculations are required to enter Hong Kong. You can review the latest CDC advisories here.
Biting insects are not numerous although mosquitoes occur locally. Water is generally safe to drink but highly chlorinated. Upset stomachs are extremely rare in Hong Kong.
CLIMATE: The climate in Hong Kong in April can be very changeable - especially in the early part of the month. Although it will probably be very warm with temperatures rising to 90-100 F. (and with accompanying high humidity), we could also experience much cooler conditions. This usually happens if a weather front moves through and the winds swing back around to the northeast. These are ideal conditions for falls of migrants but the cool winds and rain that are associated with the passage of such a front makes a light sweater and waterproof jacket essential.
ALTITUDE: Most of the tour takes place at or near sea level. The highest site that we might visit is Tai Mo Shan at about 3000 feet.
PACE OF TOUR AND DAILY ROUTINE: This will not be a particularly strenuous tour. Most days will start early and end around 6 pm. For those who wish there will be opportunities to take time out from birding to visit some of the other tourist attractions Hong Kong has to offer. Moreover it should be possible to get a taxi down to the Kowloon waterfront any evening.
Most of the walking is on fairly easy terrain and at Mai Po there is a good system of concrete paths. There are a few sites that require gentle, uphill walking and some excursions can involve walks of up to 3-4 miles. The walk down to the boardwalk hide at Mai Po involves walking on a lengthy stretch of wooden boardwalk part of which floats at high tide. On some days we may visit marshy areas.
ACCOMMODATION: We will be staying at the Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden Education Center. Most of the rooms have private bathrooms but as there is a limited number of these, single accommodation cannot be guaranteed. If we get a large number of singles, we may need to use their dormitory style accommodation where the bathrooms and washing facilities are shared.
FOOD: There is obviously a strong Chinese influence in the food we’ll eat, and western food may not be an option everywhere.
TRANSPORT: During the excursions we will be using small, air-conditioned coaches, and of course a boat on our scheduled trip to Po Toi island.
SMOKING: Smoking is not allowed in the vehicles or when the group is gathered for meals, checklists etc. If you are sharing a room with a non-smoker, please do not smoke in the room. If you smoke in the field, we ask that you do so well away and downwind from the group if possible.
GENERAL INFORMATION & CONDITIONS OF WINGS & SUNBIRD TOURS: Please take a moment to read the WINGS General Information & Conditions. This section contains important information about how we conduct tours, e.g., what is included in the tour price, refund and cancellation policies, pace of the tours and other information that will help you prepare for the tour.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: A more complete General Information for Tours to Hong Kong will be sent to each registrant on receipt of their booking. Final information with instructions for meeting the group, hotel addresses, etc., will be mailed about three weeks before trip departure. Other news will be communicated as necessary.
Updated: September 2007